Clinical dentistry offers a world of opportunities for service
and professional fulfillment. But beyond that world, there are
new horizons for dentists who want to broaden their experiences,
such as the fields of public health, politics, insurance, organized
dentistry, and research.
That's the message of "New Horizons in Dentistry,"
a program for senior New Jersey Dental School students offered
for the first time this winter. Thought-provoking, candid discussions
were served up during five lunch-hour meetings by a virtual "Who's
Who" of New Jersey dentistry: State Sen. Jerry Cardinale;
Dr. Anthony Volpe ('60), vice president of clinical dental research
at the Colgate - Palmolive Co.; UMDNJ Trustee Dr. Frederic C.
Sterritt; Dr. Richard W. D'Eustachio, past president of the American
Dental Association; and Dr. Robert J. Ott, past chairman of the
board of Delta Dental.

A conversation between Dr. Volpe and Dr. Arnold H. Rosenheck,
assistant dean of Hospital Affairs and Institutional Development,
sparked the program's genesis. They were discussing out-of-the-ordinary
opportunities some dentists have had and realized that these
people were all from New Jersey. "New Jersey dentists have
led the way in expanding the horizons of dentistry," says
Dr. Volpe. "We thought, 'Why not share these successes with
senior dental students, who may not be familiar with these opportunities?'"

"Dentistry is a very wonderful and noble profession,"
adds Dr. Rosenheck, "but there are other areas worthy of
human endeavor. This program gives students, as they leave NJDS,
a broader vision of what's available to them."

And so with the support of Dean Robert Saporito and funding
from Colgate-Palmolive, the sun rose on the New Horizons program.
"For too long, our pre-doctoral dental students have made
the transition from the school environment to the working world
without sufficient knowledge about the alternatives available
to them," comments Dr. Saporito. "This program, with
the generous support of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, brings
together dental leaders to better inform our students."

First, subject categories for the program were identified,
and then speakers were invited to share their experiences. While
there were no hard-and-fast guidelines for the speakers to follow,
their messages carried similar themes: How they became involved
in areas outside of traditional dentistry and what they've done
of value to impact society.

Dr. Sterritt, who spoke to students in February, said the
New Horizons program isn't about the speakers' accomplishments,
but rather, how young dentists can make a difference beyond the
chair. "It's important for students to be exposed at an
early stage in their careers to the opportunities that are available
to them to positively affect their lives and the lives of their
neighbors," he said.

By all accounts, Drs. Cardinale, Volpe, Ott, Sterritt, and
D'Eustachio have reached levels of prominence. But what the New
Horizons program showed is that they were once not all that different
from their audience. "We've all sat in the students' chairs,
no better or smarter than they are," Dr. Volpe says. "What
has set the speakers apart is that they took time to explore
different ventures and excel in them. Let's dispel the notion
that you have to know someone to get anywhere. The only real
barrier is desire."

Dr. Rosenheck refers to the speakers as "our heroes"
and hopes that over time, they can serve as mentors to the New
Horizons students. And by the way, he notes, the New Horizons
program isn't just a time-filler for NJDS students - "It's
part of their education as human beings."